LaBomba
Guru
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2012
- Messages
- 1,240
- Location
- Canada
- Vessel Name
- Looking Glass
- Vessel Make
- Carver 370 Voyager
Well among the many projects that I had for this year was to build a cockpit cover for Airswift. One brush with skin cancer is enough (hopefully) so I decided to make some shape. The canvas guys in this area are ridiculous so far as price but busy like crazy so even if you want to cop up the thousands of dollars they charge you will have to wait months to get something done. So, I decided to make it myself. Took some good measurements and started on the frame. Found some 1" stainless tubing on Kijiji for a dollar a foot which is regularly $5.50 anywhere else, made a special 3 hour trip to Buffalo NY to Harbour Freight to get a tubing bender/roller for $160, which is $460 in Canada, go figure. I wanted the bow of the roof to match my existing bridge and attach underneath it. I bought all the SS fittings from California, free shipping and only had to make a couple welds, thankfully I have a tig welder in my shop. I also bought an old Singer walking foot sewing machine off Kijiji from a retiring canvas maker and ordered some sunbrella material. So far I have the frame made and mounted and now my winter project while the boat is on the hard is making the canvas. The intent is to add side curtains at some point next year to extend the boating season and keep the bugs out in the summer. Here's are some pics I took with my cell phone hopefully they are not too grainy. Very easy and relatively inexpensive project so far. Sewing lessons this winter. Cheers